A/HRC/7/15 page 19 72. Social safety nets, including cash transfers, food and price subsidies, public works and so on are targeted at the poor or those at risk of poverty to protect them against the insecurity of unequal distribution of income and to help them overcome vulnerability to shocks and adversities that can drive them to complete destitution. Poverty reduction strategy papers in many African counties have acknowledged and incorporated social security measures. While in Cape Verde, a social protection development strategy has been developed as part of the poverty reduction strategy paper, in Senegal reference is made to the social protection national strategy of 2005, a comprehensive social security scheme that addresses the poorest and at-risk social categories. However, in most African countries, the right to social security has not been achieved as the fruits of economic growth have failed to trickle down to the poorest and most vulnerable. 73. Gender inequality is a major obstacle to rights-based economic growth. It has been observed that improving the education of women increases the efficiency of the family and decision-making regarding production, consumption and savings. Gender inequality in employment persists in many African countries. In Lesotho, for example, though more girls than boys are educated, gender discrimination is widespread in employment and access to productive resources and credit. Instances of domestic and sexual violence are very common, despite the gender and development policy and the Sexual Offences Act of 2003. Nevertheless, these strategies have, on the one hand, enhanced knowledge and appreciation of gender issues; on the other, they have ensured better lobbying and advocacy of women’s rights and equal participation of men and women in decision-making. In Malawi, the Growth and Development Strategy (2006-2011) aims to mainstream gender in the development process and ensure equal participation of men and women to achieve sustainable development. Rwanda has one of the highest representations of women in Parliament, with 45 per cent of seats held by women in local elections. The Local Government Electoral Amendment Act 2004 in Lesotho reserves 30 per cent of all electoral seats for women. 74. In Djibouti, poverty reduction strategy papers include specific plans of action for the improvement of identified vulnerable groups such as street children, displaced persons and nomads. In Chad, the Government strategy on social protection takes a two-pronged approach: to ensure that sectoral strategies are better targeted to meet the needs of the poorest people; and to organize more specific actions to benefit persons with disabilities, orphans, the urban unemployed and women. B. Participation 75. All members of a community that adopts a rights-based approach to development should be able to participate, either individually or collectively in (a) decision making about policy priorities; (b) formulation of programmes to implement policies; (c) monitoring the process of implementation; and (d) evaluating the outcomes, and then taking corrective actions. 76. The interim poverty reduction strategy papers, which were the basic documents for framing the final papers, were usually prepared by technocrats in collaboration with officials of IMF and the World Bank, without any participatory process. However, in a few countries, the Government allowed citizen involvement in areas of governance, such as accountability of public funds and citizen monitoring of public services. In Ethiopia, consultations were held in 171 districts, and were complemented by consultations at the provincial level, followed by consultation at the federal level. In Rwanda, the Government solicited the views of ordinary